Synopsis

R. Kelly performs the inspirational anthem across a series of autumnal and theatrical settings. He sings beside a farmhouse and in a cornfield while a young boy plays with a basketball nearby. Clips from Space Jam appear on a large screen, linking the song to its cinematic origins. The finale moves into a sports hall, where Kelly performs with an orchestra and conducts a large choir. The choir's applause closes the video on an uplifting, gospel-inflected note.

Factoids & Trivia

• The song was created for the 1996 film Space Jam, whose story centers on basketball star Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes. The official Space Jam website identifies Jordan as having personally invited Kelly to create the soundtrack's first single.

• "I Believe I Can Fly" first appeared on the Space Jam soundtrack and was later included on Kelly's 1998 album R.

• The video uses the film footage as a visual bridge between basketball imagery and the song's broader message of ambition, belief, and personal achievement.

• Production credits list Daniel Pearl as cinematographer. Pearl was also known for his work on major feature films and music videos.

• At the 1998 Grammy Awards, the song won three awards, including Best R&B Song, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television.

• The video received a 1997 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Video from a Film.